By Head Coach Cody Hirsch — PML Texas Longhorns
The 2026 regular season didn’t just end with Texas undefeated and crowned SEC Champions — it concluded with one of the most dominant award hauls in Longhorns history. From lockdown cornerback play to elite linebacker command, from surgical tight end production to breathtaking return-game electricity, your Longhorns didn’t just compete with the nation’s best — they became the nation’s best.
What unfolded on awards night was a celebration of a culture built on discipline, speed, and relentless execution. Here’s a full breakdown of each Longhorn who brought national hardware back to Austin.
CB Eli Bowen — The Triple Crown Superstar
Chuck Bednarik Award (Nation’s Best Defensive Player)
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Nation’s Top Defensive Player — FWAA)
Jim Thorpe Award (Nation’s Best Defensive Back)
When a single player walks away with even one of these awards, he becomes a campus legend. But Eli Bowen didn’t settle for one — he collected three of college football’s most prestigious defensive trophies.
Bowen posted:
- 3 Interceptions
- 42 Tackles
- 16 Pass Deflections
These are elite numbers by themselves — but the film is where Bowen truly separated himself. Week after week, he erased opposing WR1s, shut down deep threats, played through contact, and showed NFL-caliber awareness on every snap.
Whether in man coverage or rolling into a disguised zone look, Bowen’s technique, discipline, and closing burst made him the most feared corner in the country. Offenses started game-planning away from him by midseason — and even then, he still found ways to impact games.
The takeaway:
Eli Bowen didn’t just anchor the nation’s No. 1 defense — he became the face of it. And on award night, the nation finally recognized what Texas already knew:
He was the single most dominant defensive player in college football.
LB Liona Lefau — D*** Butkus Award Winner (Nation’s Best Linebacker)
Where Bowen commanded the air, Liona Lefau controlled everything between the hashes.
Lefau’s combination of physicality, lateral quickness, and football IQ made him the prototype of a modern SEC linebacker. He finished the year with:
- 4 Sacks
- 39 Tackles
- 46 Assisted Tackles
But the raw numbers don’t tell the full story. Lefau was the heartbeat and communicator of Texas’ front seven. His blitz timing was impeccable, his reads were elite, and his ability to cover tight ends and running backs erased mismatches before they became problems.
Game after game, he played like a coach on the field — diagnosing plays pre-snap, shifting personnel, and blowing up run lanes before they formed. His presence allowed the defensive line to attack, linebackers to flow, and the secondary to sit confidently in coverage.
Bottom line:
The Butkus Award found the right home. Lefau didn’t just lead the defense — he elevated the entire unit.
TE Jack Endries — John Mackey Award (Nation’s Best Tight End)
In a season filled with explosive playmakers, Jack Endries became the Longhorns’ security blanket, mismatch creator, and red-zone nightmare.
His final line:
- 55 Receptions
- 659 Yards
- 9 Touchdowns
Endries’ versatility is what made him special. He lined up in-line, flexed out into the slot, motioned across formations, and consistently forced defenses into impossible decisions. Too fast for linebackers. Too physical for safeties.
He thrived in the intermediate passing game, moved the chains on third down, and became a go-to option in clutch moments throughout Texas’ undefeated run.
Every championship-level team has that one dependable, technically sound pass-catcher who does the dirty work and still fills the stat sheet — for Texas, that was Jack Endries.
The Mackey Award was never in doubt.
CB/Return Specialist Ryan Niblett — Jet Award (Nation’s Top Return Specialist)
When the ball is in Ryan Niblett’s hands, every stadium holds its breath.
His return stats were simply jaw-dropping:
- 97 Return Attempts
- 2,246 Yards
- 9 Touchdowns
That’s not just elite — that’s historic.
Niblett showcased world-class acceleration, vision, and pure track speed every single week. Some players just have the “go” button that no defender can match — and Niblett pressed it at will.
Every time an opponent lined up to punt or kick, they faced a nightmare question:
Do we kick it to him and risk six… or give Texas free field position?
More often than not, they chose wrong.
Niblett didn’t just flip field position — he flipped games, swung momentum, and gave Texas the kind of hidden-yardage advantage that championship teams thrive on.
A Golden Era Confirmed: Texas Dominates Award Season
Five major national awards.
Four players recognized as the best in the nation at their positions.
A defense with the top corner, the top linebacker, and arguably the top overall defender in America.
An offense with the most reliable tight end in the country.
And a special teams unit with the most electrifying returner in college football.
This wasn’t just a great season — it was a program-defining year.
Texas didn’t just win games.
Texas didn’t just win the SEC.
Texas won college football’s respect.
And as these trophies return to Austin, one thing becomes clear:
The Longhorns aren’t just champions — they’re building a dynasty.
